United Nations Development Programme in the
Arab States

A new project to support peace and development in Yemen

Apr 6, 2014

During the signing,UNFPA Representative, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation and Minister of Local Administration.

Sana'a - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Government of Yemen (GoY) signed a new project to support increasing citizen participation in peace, development planning and policy development, as well as reintegrating marginalized groups into development sphere with much focus to youth and women.

The joint project “Peace and Transition Support Project (PTSP)” has a total budget of US $ 7,232,000. It is based on the assumption that development is possible and necessary, even in the midst of conflict.

The project will address the causes of conflicts in Yemen in the lack of development and access to basic social services. More specifically, the project assumes that a mobilising factor for conflicts in Yemen have been the absence of clear signals that government is committed to inclusive development. The project Focus Areas are: “Good governance” and “economic recovery, stabilization, and growth foundations”. This project will also address the “Youth and Women Empowerment.

In this environment “local development cannot wait”, as all political commitments will be tested against changes in delivery of goods and services. As a result, the pursuit of effective local government able to support service delivery as other issues related to rights cannot be relegated until after the transitional period. Service provision relies on local authorities being able to perform their responsibilities, manage resources appropriately and earn the trust of their constituents.

Moreover, the project will aim at providing seed funding, to support the review of options on legal and policy amendments suggested by the outcomes of the national dialogue and constitutional drafting. The project will also reinforce government delivery systems in order to provide a peace dividend to conflict affected communities.

Upon conclusion of the project this planning system will enable localities to design one plan based on a participatory process, so that all funds to the local administration – whether they are from the PTSP or from other sources, and whether they are earmarked - can be allocated according to the prioritization made by the local administrations in the planning process.